In the past century, the face of warfare has changed dramatically. Whereas the wars of yesteryear were fought on the ground, today’s wars are a showdown in the skies. The power, effectiveness, and might of modern military is exhibited in the power of their air force. What is the Air Force? In the United States, the Air Force is a branch of the armed services whose purpose it is to defend and protect the United States and her allies by means of air combat. Therefore, the core weaponry of the air force consists of airplanes and the personnel attendant to their operation. Of course, the Air Force is not the only branch of the military that possesses or uses aircraft. The component that differentiates the Air Force from other military branches is that its main offensive tool is the aircraft. What Does the Air Force Do? Air planes are the fastest way to travel, and because of their speed and power, they are deadly in warfare. The Air Force utilizes and maximizes the power of airplanes for several reasons. Reconnaissance Because of their aerial perspective, airplanes are invaluable for gaining information about enemy locations, the size of their army, the status of their preparation, and the lay of the land. Airplanes used for this purpose are the Stealth Fighter and other high-altitude airplanes. Supply Airplanes, particularly large carrier craft, provide much needed supplies such as food and water to troops. Because of their immense size and capability, airplanes can also deliver tanks, trucks, and hundreds of troops. The Air Force also utilizes helicopters, which can accomplish the same purpose. Air Combat The main use of the Air Force in time of war is their ability in combat. Today’s aircraft are incredibly agile and maneuverable. They are used to shoot down enemy airplanes, and to attack enemy reconnaissance or supply planes. A military demonstrates its upper hand in a battle when its air force is the first to strike and disable the enemy’s air power. Ground Offensive In time of war, much fighting takes place on the ground. After all that is where most of the troops are, and that is where much of the battles takes place. The Air Force can drop bombs on enemy territory—obliterating immense amounts of property and human life. Jets are also equipped with missiles, which accomplish the same objective with greater force and precision. Many jets and helicopters are also armed with automatic guns, enabling firepower to be unleashed from a high-speed aerial location. What is the Power of the Air Force in a Time of War? The Air Force is absolutely essential in time of war. Heavy aircraft were used to halt the killing in World War II by dropping powerful atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Air Force muscle was flexed in the Gulf War to prepare the way for the massive ground invasion of American and Allied Forces. It was the Japanese who strategically crippled the U.S. Air Force through their own aerial invasion of Pearl Harbor at the beginning of WWII. The Air Force is a powerful military branch, and its incredible power shows no sign of diminishing. For more information on the Air Force, visit http://afmicroblog.com and http://warmicroblog.com

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